Roller printing apparatus



May 26, 1964 .1. SCHWANINGER 3,134,324

ROLLER PRINTING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORJOHN SCHWANINGEQ A TTOIIVEK May 26, 1964 J. SCHWANINGER ROLLER PRINTINGAPPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 20, 1962 INVENTOR. JOHNSCHWAN/NGEQ 6 Mme/m.

United States Patent 3,134,324 ROLLER PRINTING APPARATUS JohnSchwaninger, Plainview, N.Y., assignor to Martin Machine Co. Inc.,Flushing, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Apr. 20, 1962, Ser. No.189,035 11 Claims. (Cl. 101269) This invention relates to rollerprinting apparatus. It is particularly directed to apparatus in which asheet is held against a flat printing platen and a roller rolls againstthe sheet to press the sheet against the printing platen for theprinting operation.

In such apparatus, as heretofore constructed, when a shaft on which theroller is rotatably mounted, is given a forward motion, the roller willroll against the sheet and press it against the printing type, but ithas been found that with such apparatus, the roller often also pulls thepaper along with it and causes it to slip across the printing type. Itis therefore an object of the present invention to provide apparatus ofthe character described, which will roll the roller in such a way thatthere is no tendency for velocity at the line of contact of the rollerand sheet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of thecharacter described, in which there is no driving mechanism at or abovethe surface of the sheet to be printed, so that the sheet can be largeand overlie the apparatus, and no part of the apparatus or mechanismwill be in the way of the sheet or interfere therewith.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong, ruggedand durable apparatus of the character described, which will berelatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be sure and positivein operation, and which shall yet be practical and efiicient to a highdegree in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will in part be obviousand in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown an illustrativeembodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the relation between the velocities andradii of different parts of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relationship between therollers, the printing type and the sheet to be printed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but relating to the apparatus ofFIG. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1, 2and 3 thereof, designates one form of apparatus embodying the invention.The same comprises a horizontal fixed platen 11 provided at itsunderside with printing type 12. Placed against the underside of thetype.12 is a sheet 13 to be printed at its upper surface. Said sheet maybe held against its platen in any suitable manner. For pressing thesheet 13 against the type 12 to cause a print therein, there is provideda roller 14 fixed to a horizontal axial shaft 15. The printing rollermay be made of rubber, plastic or any other suitable material. The shaft15 extends to opposite sides of the printing roller 14, as shown inFIG. 1. Means is provided on opposite sides of the roller 14 to rotateand concurrently advance the shaft 15. Only the apparatus on one side ofthe roller is shown, it being understood that similar apparatus issymmetrically disposed on the opposite side of the roller. At the outerend of shaft 15 is a ball bearing 17 which may roll on the top edge 18of a fixed horizontal support 19 Which takes the load and extends atright angles to said shaft. The shaft 15 passes through a bearing block20 mounted on a tape 21, which maybe made of nylon or other suitablematerial. Tape 21 has an upper horizontal run 21a at right angles toshaft 15. One end of the tape run 21a is fixed as at 22 to an annulardisc 23 keyed to a horizontal shaft 24 which is parallel to shaft 15 androtates in a fixed bearing 24a and is power-driven by any suitablemotive means 241). The tape 21 passes around an opposed annular disc orpulley 25 idling on a fixed-axis shaft 26 (in bearing 26a) parallel toshaft 24, and has a lower run 21b extending forwardly beneath run 21a.Run 21b of the tape 21 then passes around and beneath the annular disc23 and is fixed thereto as at 27. Thus rotation of shaft 24 by motor Mthrough belt B, will cause the tape 21 to move and hence will advancethe shaft 15 in a direction at right angles to its axis, at thelongitudinal speed of the tape. Obviously the motor M would of necessitybe a reversible, synchronous motor since bearing block 20 can onlyreciprocate. Any usual reversible synchronous motor provided withsuitable reversing switches may be employed, for example such asmanufactured by Haydon Division of General Time Corporation ofTorrington, Connecticut.

Also it is clear that the belt 21 itself can be moved back and forthmanually to effect the reciprocation of the rocker shaft 15 for causinga printing operation for which this apparatus is suitable as statedabove. Obviously the shaft 15 must be reciprocated for printing.

Fixed to the shaft 24 is an annular disc 30 formed with a centralannular rib 31 dividing the disc into spaced portions 32 and 33 of equaldiameter. Idling on shaft 26 is an annular disc or pulley 34. Fixed tothe shaft 15 and located between the bearing block 29 and the bearing17, is an annular disc 40 formed with a central annular rib 41 dividingsaid disc into spaced portions 42 and 43 of equal diameter. Therelationship of the radii of discs 23, 3t), 4t) and roller 14 is R T 1'R 72 where R is radius of the roller 14; r is radius of disc 40; r isradius of disc 23, and r is radius of disc 30. A tape 45, which maylikewise be made of nylon, extends around the underside of disc portion43 and is attached thereto as at 47. Said tape 45 extends forwardly andover the disc portion 33 and is attached thereto as at 48.

Another tape 50 extends around the underside of disc portion 32 and isfixed thereto as at 51. Said tape 50 then extends rearwardly and aroundthe pulley 34 and then forwardly and around and beneath the disc portion42, and is attached thereto as at 55.

With such construction, the velocity at the point of contact at theprinting roller 14 with the paper, will be zero. Assuming that thevelocity of the tape 21 is V and the velocity of tapes 45 and 50 is Vthen E R '1 V R is illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawing. In said figure60 designates the point of contact of roller 14 with the sheet to beprinted. Numeral 61 designates a vertical plane through the axis of theroller and line 62 designates an inclined line extending from point 611and touching the outer ends of horizontal lines representing V extendingfrom the center of the circle 63 whose radius is R, and V tangent tocircle 64 whose radius is 1' It will now be observed that the velocityat the point of contact or at the top of the roller where the rollercontacts the paper, is zero. The velocity at any point in plane 51 isequal to the length of the horizontal base of the right angle trianglewhose apex is at 60, and having a vertical side 61 and an inclined side62. Thus at the point 613 the base is zero so that at the point ofcontact, the roller does not move longitudinally of the paper orlongitudinally of the platen 11, and therefore there will be no slippagebetween the roller and the platen.

It will now be observed'also that the entire apparatus is located belowthe top of the printing roller. It will also be understood that theapparatus shown on one side of the roller 14 in FIG. 1 is repeated atits opposite side in symmetry with the illustrated apparatus, so thatthere is a balanced drive for the shaft 15 at opposite sides of theroller.

In FIG. 4 there is shown apparatus 160 embodying a modified form of theinvention. The apparatus 119% comprises a printing roller 1411 similarto printing roller 14, and fixed to a shaft 102. Roller 101 may also beused to press a sheet 13 against type 12 on a platen 11. Means areprovided for concurrently rotating and advancing the shaft 1432. Onlythe apparatus on one side of the roller is illustrated in FIG. 4, itbeing understood that a similar, symmetrically disposed apparatus islocated at the opposite side of the roller. Shaft 1&2 extends to a ballbearing 104 rotating on the upper edge 105 of a fixed horizontalabutment 1%, disposed at right angles to said shaft. Fixed to shaft 102is an annular disc 1tl7 formed with a central annular rib 1198 dividingsaid disc into portions 1119 and 110 of equal diameter. Also fixed toshaft 162 and between the disc 1% and ball bearing 194, is a second disc111 provided with a central annular rib 112 dividing said disc into discportions 113 and 114, of similar outer diameter.

Rotatably mounted in any suitable fixed bearings 116:: is a shaft 116which may be rotated by any suitable motive means 1116b. Motive means116]) may comprise motor M belted by belt B to a disc D on shaft 116. Onsaid shaft is an annular disc 117 provided with a central annular rib118 dividing said disc into said disc portions 11W, 12%) of equaldiameter. Also fixed to said shaft 116 is another disc 121 formed with acentral annular rib 125?. dividing said disc into disc portions 123, 124of equal diameter. Mounted on a fixed bearing is a shaft 131 paralleland adjacent to shaft 116 and carrying a pair of idler pulleys 131 and132. There is also provided a shaft 134- parallel to shaft 130 andsupported by any suitable fixed bearings 134a and carrying idler pulleys135 and 136. Shaft 102 is located between shafts 116 and 134.

A tape 141) has one end extending beneath and rearwardly around the discportion 11% and fixed thereto as at 141. Said tape 14% then extendsforwardly horizontally and around and over the idler 131, then down,under and around the disc portion 121), and is attached thereto as at142. A second tape 143 has one end extending forwardly around andbeneath the disc portion 119 and is fixed thereto as at 1 24. Said tape143 extends rearwardly, around and over the idler 135, and thenforwardly and beneath the disc portion 109, and is attached thereto asat 146.

Another tape 147 has one end extending rearwardly around and beneath thedisc portion 114 and is attached thereto as at 15@. Said tape 147extends forwardly and over and around the idler 132 and then down andrearwardly around the disc portion 124 and is attached thereto as at152. Still another tape 153 hasone end thereof extending forwardlyaround and beneath the disc portion 123 and is attached thereto as at154. Said tape 153 then extends rearwardly and around the pulley 136,then forwardly and around and forwardly beneath the disc portion 113,and is attached thereto as at 155.

Assuming that the velocity of tapes 140 and 143 is V and the velocitiesof tapes 14-7 and 153 is V the radius of the roller 101 is R, the radiusof disc portions 169 and 11% is r the radius of disc portions 113 and114 is r and the radius of disc portions 123, 124 is r and the radius ofdisc portions 119, 120 is r then The above formula is illustrated inFIG. 5 of the drawing. In said drawing 160 is the apex of a trianglehaving a vertical side 161 and an inclined line 162 passing through theouter ends of lines r and r tangent to circles whose radii are r and rIn the drawing R is radius of circle 164-. The velocities of the tapes140 and 143 are equal, the velocities of the tapes 147, 153 are equal.The velocity of the point of contact of roller 101 with the sheet to beprinted, is zero. The diagrams of FIGS. 2, and 5 illustrate the velocityof every point in the roller in a vertical, longitudinal plane passingthrough the axis of the roller. The velocity increases in accordancewith the distance from the point of contact downwardly.

It will thus be seen that there is provided roller printing apparatus inwhich the several objects of the present invention are achieved andwhich is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and asvarious changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it isto be understood that all subject-matter herein set forth or shown inthe accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. in combination, a horizontal shaft, a roller fixed to said shaft forrotation therewith, a fixed longitudinal horizontal surface at rightangles to said shaft, means on said shaft having rolling engagement withsaid surface, a second shaft parallel to the first shaft and located onone side thereof and journalled in a fixed bearing, a third shaftparallel to the second shaft and located on the other side of the firstshaft, a pair of annular discs fixed to the second shaft for rotationtherewith, a pair of idler pulleys on the third shaft, means including atape connected to one annular disc on said second shaft and passing overone idler pulley on the third shaft, for advancing the first shaft in adirection at right angles to its axis, and including a tape connected tothe other annular disc on the second shaft and passing over the otheridler pulley on the third shaft, for rotating the first shaft, at suchvelocities that the velocity of points in a vertical plane passingthrough the axis of the roller are proportional to the distances of suchpoints from the line of contact of a horizontal plane tangent to the topof the roller.

2. In combination, a horizontal printing platen having printing means atits underside against which a sheet to be printed may be located, aroller pressing said sheet against said printing means, an axial shaftfor said roller movable therewith, a horizontal fixed surface, means onsaid shaft having rolling engagement with said surface, means to advancesaid shaft and roller in a direction at right angles to said shaft andin a plane parallel to said surface and to rotate said shaft and rolleras said shaft is advanced, at such velocities that there is nolongitudinal movement of the outer surface of said roller relative tothe sheet in said direction at the line of contact of said roller withsaid sheet, said last means comprising an annular disc fixed on saidshaft for rotation therewith, provided with a pair of disc portions ofequal diameter, tapes fixed to and extending around said disc portionsfrom opposite sides, respectively, and extending in opposite directions,means to move said tapes in the same direction, and at the same speed,and means to move said shaft at right angles to its axis, with the ratioof the velocities of the tapes and shaft being where the radius of theroller is R and the radius of said disc portions is r 3. In combination,a shaft, a printing roller on the shaft rotating therewith, an annulardisc, a second disc coaxial with the first disc and fixed for rotationtherewith about a fixed axis parallel to said shaft, a second shaftparallel to said axis of rotation, a pair of idler pulleys on saidsecond shaft, a tape fixed at one end to the first disc and extendingaround one of said idler pulleys and having its other end extendingaround said first disc and fixed thereto, a bearing block on said tapethrough which the first shaft is journalled, said second disc having apair of spaced bearing portions of equal diameter, side by side, a thirddisc on the first shaft and having a pair of spaced disc portions ofequal diameter, a tape fixed to one of the disc portions of the thirddisc and extending around said other pulley and around one bearingportion of the second disc and attached thereto, and another tape havingone end fixed to the other disc portion of the second disc and extendingaround the other disc portion of the third disc and attached thereto,and the relationship of the radii of said roller, and said first, secondand third discs being in accordance with the formula,

R+r R 12 where R is the radius of the roller, r is the radius of thethird disc, r is the radius of the first disc, and r is the radius ofthe second disc.

4. The combination of claim 3, a fixed abutment having a horizontalsurface extending at right angles to the first shaft and means on saidfirst shaft having rolling engagement with said abutment.

5. The combination of claim 4, in combination with a horizontal printingplaten above said roller having printing means on its underside solocated that a sheet to be printed and placed against the printing meanswill be pressed by said roller against said printing means.

6. In combination, a first shaft carrying a printing roller rotatingtherewith, a first annular disc on said shaft and having a pair ofannular disc portions of equal diameter side by side, a second shaft ona fixed bearing, second and third annular discs thereon each having apair of annular disc portions of equal diameter, side by side, a thirdshaft parallel to and adjacent the second shaft and carrying a pair ofidler pulleys, a fourth shaft parallel to the first shaft and carrying apair of idler pulleys, a fourth annular disc on the first shaft andhaving a pair of annular disc portions of equal diameter side by side, atape fixed to one disc portion of the first annular disc and extendingaround an idler pulley of the third shaft and around an annular discportion of the second disc on the second shaft and fixed thereto, asecond tape extending around the other annular disc portion of thesecond disc and extending around an idler pulley on the fourth shaft andbeneath the other disc portion of the first disc and fixed thereto,another tape extending around one of the disc. portions of the fourthannular disc and around the other idler pulley on the third shaft andaround one of the disc portions of the third disc and fixed thereto, andstill another tape fixed to the other disc portion of the third annulardisc and extending around the other idler pulley of the fourth shaft andthen around the other disc portion of the fourth annular disc and fixedthereto.

7. In the combination of claim 6, the ratio of the radii of the rollerand the first, second, third and fourth annular discs following theformula,

R+r 1' where R is the radius of the roller, r is the radius of thefourth disc, r is the radius of the first disc, r is the radius of thethird disc, and r is the radius of the second disc.

8. The combination of claim 7, in combination with a fixed horizontalplaten above the printing roller and having printing means at itsunderside so located that a sheet to be printed and held against theprinting means will be pressed against said printing means by saidroller.

9. In the combination of claim 8, a fixed horizontal abutment having ahorizontal surface extending at right angles at the axis of the firstshaft, and bearing means on the first rolling on said surface.

10. In combination, a roller having a cylindrical outer surface, meanshaving a fixed flat surface in a plane parallel to the axis of saidroller, means to mount said roller for movement of its axis in adirection perpendicular to said axis and in a plane parallel to saidsurface, and means to move the axis of said roller in said direction andto rotate said roller as its axis is so moved, at such velocities thatthere is no relative movement between a line of tangency of the outersurface of said roller in said direction, with a plane parallel to saidsurface and tangent to .the outer surface of said roller, and suchplane, said last means comprising a pair of disc portions of equaldiameter coaxial with said roller and fixed to move therewith, tapesfixed to and extending around said disc portions from opposite sides,and extending in opposite directions, respectively, means to move saidtapes in said direction of movement and at the same speed, and means tomove the axis of said roller in said direction of movement, with wherethe radius of the roller is R and the radius of said disc portions is r11. The combination of claim 10, said last means further including meansfixed to move with said roller and having rolling contact with saidfixed surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS CossarMar. 12, 1912 Herbert Oct. 10, 1961

1. IN COMBINATION, A HORIZONTAL SHAFT, A ROLLER FIXED TO SAID SHAFT FORROTATION THEREWITH, A FIXED LONGITUDINAL HORIZONTAL SURFACE AT RIGHTANGLES TO SAID SHAFT, MEANS ON SAID SHAFT HAVING ROLLING ENGAGEMENT WITHSAID SURFACE, A SECOND SHAFT PARALLEL TO THE FIRST SHAFT AND LOCATED ONONE SIDE THEREOF AND JOURNALLED IN A FIXED BEARING, A THIRD SHAFTPARALLEL TO THE SECOND SHAFT AND LOCATED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRSTSHAFT, A PAIR OF ANNULAR DISCS FIXED TO THE SECOND SHAFT FOR ROTATIONTHEREWITH, A PAIR OF IDLER PULLEYS ON THE THIRD SHAFT, MEANS INCLUDING ATAPE CONNECTED TO ONE ANNULAR DISC ON SAID SECOND SHAFT AND PASSING OVERONE IDLER PULLEY ON THE THIRD SHAFT, FOR ADVANCING THE